The Anointing of the Sick

The healing ministry of Jesus Christ is a primary task of the Church. This work describes the healing ministry of the Church as it is expressed in Scripture, Tradition, and the liturgical life, focusing particularly on the sacrament of the anointing of the sick. The author discusses both the history and theology of this sacrament, which has its roots in the Tradition of the Church as expressed in James 5.14 15: Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. The theology of this rite embraces the whole person and addresses the connection between sin and sickness, and the disintegrating power of illness on a person and the reintegrating power of grace. A new translation of the rite is appended, as well as an abbreviated version for use in a hospital or home setting.

CONTENTS

Introduction

1-The Healing Ministry of the Church

Jesus the Healer

The Healing Ministry in the Apostolic Church

Baptism: Sacrament of Healing

Eucharist: Medicine of Immortality
The Life in Christ

2-A Brief History of the Rite of Anointing the Sick

The Early Church

The Byzantine Tradition

The Contemporary Rite

The Celebration of the Rite

3-Theology of the Rite of Anointing

Sickness and Sin

The Experience of Sickness
Healing

4-What Can Be Done? Some Pastoral Suggestions

Restoring the Ministry of Healing in the Parish

The General Anointing on Holy Wednesday

Celebrating the Rite

What about Ministry to Non-Orthodox?

Conclusion Christ's Ultimate Victory

Appendix 1

The Rite of Anointing of the Sick

Appendix 2

An Abbreviated Rite of Anointing

Suggestions for further readingPaul Meyendorff